Registered users of the ALW project can use the commands "mosaic" or "lynx" to access a graphical or text-based WWW browser from an ALW client. These browsers will automatically access ALW resources by connecting directly to the ALW WWW server and will display the available information. By traversing the links that appear, users can find a wealth of information about the ALW project.
Important information found on the ALW home page is time sensitive. The "Special Notices" section will be used to display fast-breaking news such as security matters, important release notes, and central server maintenance. The "ALW Message of the Day" link points to the information that is important to ALW users. This is the same information that is displayed when a user logs into an ALW account. After logging in, users can find out what's new on ALW through the "What's New on the ALW Project?" link which lists information about newly-installed and updated versions of software made accessible to users on their local workstations.
User documentation is another kind of information that is accessible from the ALW home page. ALW is using WWW technology to automatically distribute its latest documentation. Users can view the formatted documentation at their workstations or with the help of a PostScript printer, get a local paper copy.
New users of the ALW project will benefit most from the ALW home page. These users can take a tutorial of the Andrew File System (AFS) by accessing the AFS Beginner's Guide or peruse the ALW Quick Reference Guide. A description of all the ALW services, available applications, and supported computer architectures can also be obtained here.
Any NIH researcher with access to a WWW browser can connect to the ALW WWW server and find information of interest without being a registered ALW user. Useful information such as a description of the ALW project, the current ALW service fees, and the ALW registration forms are all easily accessible.
Another popular link found on the ALW home page is the NIH E-mail phone book. This page allows anyone to make queries from the central NIH E-mail phone book for addresses, phone numbers, and related information.
The ALW home page also provides access to some popular Internet resources. UNIX security resources scattered around the Internet have been assembled and arranged in an easy-to-read format. A collection of AFS resources has been made for WWW users interested in the distributed filesystem technology, AFS, on which the ALW project is based.
To help WWW users find what they're looking for on the Internet, the ALW home page offers a set of search options that can be used to "surf the net". This is a good place to begin when looking for specific information.
The ALW staff is continuing to use state-of-the-art technologies to bring computing services to laboratories at NIH. WWW technology is becoming increasingly important as a medium for timely, accurate communication among users of "high" technology. We are continuing to explore ways to use WWW technology to expand the computing services that we offer.
For more information about the ALW project, or its WWW server, contact the DCRT Technical Assistance and Support Center (TASC) at 594-DCRT or point your WWW browser to http://www.alw.nih.gov.